Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko (Photo: AFP/VNA) 
The 13th Party Central Committee convened its 12th plenum in Hanoi on July 18, with Party General Secretary To Lam delivering the opening speech and Politburo member and State President Luong Cuong, on behalf of the Politburo, chairing the meeting.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has signed a decision assigning Tran Duc Thang, a member of the Party Central Committee and Standing Deputy Inspector General of the Government Inspectorate, as acting Minister of Agriculture and Environment.
Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Hoang Giang said he hopes National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man's upcoming trip will achieve substantive results, especially in trade, investment, agriculture, sustainable development, and innovation, and create a premise to deepen bilateral relations between Vietnam and the three countries.
The 12th session of the 13th Party Central Committee, the ninth political consultation between the Vietnamese and Cambodian foreign ministries, and the 2025 Vietnam-Laos Trade Fair are among news highlights on July 18.
Trade between Laos and Vietnam reached 2.25 billion USD in 2024, up 38.2% from the previous year. In particular, total trade turnover in the first five months of 2025 hit 1.6 billion USD, a year-on-year increase of 100.4%.
In his opening speech, the Party chief highlighted the significance of the event, saying that the convening of the conference nearly three months earlier than the schedule demonstrates the proactive, urgent, and highly responsible spirit of the entire Party in comprehensively and thoroughly preparing the contents to be presented at the 14th National Party Congress.
The National Committee for APEC 2027 is tasked with assisting the PM in considering, directing, and coordinating the performance of tasks related to the preparation for and organisation of APEC conferences and related activities in 2027.
The ninth Political Consultation between the foreign ministries of Vietnam and Cambodia was held in Hanoi on July 17.
In the first six months, Vietnamese ministries, sectors and localities signed more than 250 commitments and cooperation agreements during the diplomatic activities of high-ranking leaders, doubling the 2024 number.
This plenum will focus discussions on three major groups of issues - preparations for the 14th National Party Congress; the development of a political and legal foundation for continued reform in the coming years; and personnel work.
Set against the backdrop of major political and economic developments in both nations, this visit is poised to open up new cooperation opportunities, said Vietnamese Ambassador Tran Quoc Khanh.
The two sides agreed on priority areas for future cooperation, including increased delegation exchanges, information sharing, and trade promotion, with a view to raising two-way trade above the current 50 million USD. They also discussed collaboration in the Halal industry.
PM Pham Minh Chinh's reception for Global Head of Equity and Multi Asset of FTSE Russell Gerald Toledano, the third meeting of the Vietnam – Azerbaijan Intergovernmental Committee on Economic – Trade and Scientific – Technical Cooperation, and the Foreign Ministry's regular press conference are among news highlights on July 17 evening.
FTSE Russell’s Global Head of Equity and Multi Asset Gerald Toledano praised Vietnam’s reform momentum, noting that its stock market, now the most liquid in ASEAN, has surpassed those of Thailand and Singapore.
The top legislator urged the SAV and SAO to advance their 2025-2028 medium-term cooperation plan and the 2021-2030 strategy, asking for more exchanges of delegations and expertise, particularly in digital transformation and staff training.
Cambodia always remembers and appreciates Vietnam’s support for Cambodia’s escape from the Pol Pot genocidal regime, said Secretary of State Ung Rachana of the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
The 27th Party Congress of the VNA elected a 27-member Party Committee for the new term and a delegation of six official and two alternate delegates to attend the first congress of the Government's Party Organisation.
The Foreign Ministry spokeperson was responding to a reporter's question regarding July 12, 2025, which marked the 9th anniversary of the ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in the East Sea arbitration case between the Philippines and China under Annex VII of UNCLOS.
The two sides agreed to enhance information sharing and policy consultation at all levels – from technical experts to government leaders – to promptly address issues arising during the course of cooperation, and to seek flexible solutions to balance and raise bilateral trade.
Nominees for the National Assembly Party Committee members must demonstrate political mettle, intellect, moral integrity, prestige and proven competence to fulfill the mission entrusted by the Party, the NA, and the people
